Ankle brace

ABSTRACT

Ankle brace with a sole as a basis. On the sole is fastened a vertical heel counter by means of a click arrangement and the heel counter ends with a joint, which is freely moveable in all directions. In continuation of the moveable joint is on the joint fastened a vertical bar, mounted on the top with an in high adjustable fitting, on which is mounted a semicircular double counter, which from behind rounds equal forward on both sides of the calf of the leg. The inner counter rests direct on the calf of the leg and is connected to the outer counter in both sides by a moveable joint, by which it can move in upward and downward direction in relation to the outer counter. Next to these joints are in both sides mounted a hook, from where in both sides an elastic adjustable strap crosses over the instep to the sole and is fastened under this.

The invention relates to an ankle brace—Orthosis—which can be used inall cases, where nerves, muscles and similar in the legs or elsewhere inthe nervous system are damaged in such a way, that the person will notbe able to raise the front part of the foot sufficient to have a normalwalk, the so called drop feet

The ankle brace is constructed so, that the sole to be put into theshoe, forms the base of the ankle brace.

On the sole is mounted a heel counter by means of a click arrangement.On the heel counter is mounted a joint, which is constructed thus, thatthe sole and the heel counter freely are able to move in all directionscompared with the upper part of the ankle brace and this means, that thefoot has free movement in the ankle joint in all directions and so theperson will achieve a free and natural walk and the crossed strapscause, that the foot is placed in a normal position after every step incontrast to all other known ankle braces, where the movement of the footis fixed to a movement back and forth, but not sideways. The movement ofthe ankle joint in all directions causes furthermore, that the steel barand the double counter are able to rock completely to the rear by meansof which, there is no form of hindrance, when the foot is put into theshoe.

The assembling of the heel counter and the sole by means of a clickarrangement causes, that the different sizes of sole and counter as amatter of course can be clicked together and be adjusted to theindividual shoe and this in connection with, that the upper doublecounter is adjustable and that the length of the straps by moving thehole in the strap, which is hitched on the double counter, can beadjusted individually, causes, that the ankle brace immediately can beadjusted to the shoe of the individual person.

With the double counter an improvement has been achieved, that whereother counters glide up and down direct upon the calf of the leg, themovement between the inner and the outer counter will cause, that themovement up and down against the calf will be caught by the movement ofthe joint.

We can refer to the following well-known ankle braces:

DE number 297 04 669 U 1

DE number 199 41 368 A 1

both having an ankle brace with a bar on each side of the foot andfastened thus, that the sideway movements are inflexible, and

U.S. Patent No. 5,860,423

in which the ankle brace on the heel counter is fastened in 2 points bywhich the sideway movements are not possible.

As regards DE 199 41 368 A 1 it is stated, that the upper counter can betaken to pieces by which it will be possible to force the ankle bracesfrom each other in order to make it easier to put them on.

The invention will be explained more precisely in the following,referring to the drawings FIG. 1 showing the ankle brace from in front,FIG. 2 showing the double counter and fittings and FIG. 3 showing theankle brace from the side.

The ankle brace consists of a sole (FIG. 1: 1, FIG. 3: 1), which will befitted to the customers footwear. The sole will be provided with avertical heel counter (GIG. 1: 2, FIG. 3: 2), which will be fitted tothe heel counter of the shoe. This heel counter ends about 1 centimetreover the heel counter of the shoe, marked by a line (FIG. 1: 3, FIG.3:.3).

The joining of the sole and the vertical heel counter is made by a clicksystem, that means that on the underside of the sole, small downwardturned knobs are cast. In the heel counter going under the sole (FIG. 1:15, FIG. 3: 15) are made holes, which diameter and intervals are as theknobs thus, that the sole and the heel counter can be clicked together.The heel counter ends with a joint (FIG. 1: 4, FIG. 3: 4), which allowsmovements backwards and forwards and at the same time to both sides,which means full movement In vertical continuation of this joint ismounted a steel bar (FIG. 1: 5, FIG. 3: 5) On the steel bar is mounted asliding fitting (FIG. 1: 6, FIG. 2: 6, FIG. 3: 6), which can be moved upand down the steel bar and can be secured in the high wanted by means ofa stretching screw (FIG. 2: 6, FIG. 3: 6).

On this gliding fitting is mounted a semicircular forward turned counter(FIG. 1: 8, FIG. 2: 8, FIG. 3: 8) thus, that the centre of the circle ismounted on the sliding fitting and so, that the ends of the counter goequally forward on both sides of the leg. This counter will because ofthe direct connection with the sole in the shoe (FIG. 1: 2, 4, 5, 6,15), (FIG. 2: 6) and (FIG. 3: 2, 4, 5, 6, 15) follow the movements ofthe shoe heel while walking.

In order to counteract these movements, the outer counter (FIG. 1: 8,FIG. 2: 8, FIG. 3: 8) is provided with an inner counter (FIG. 1: 7, FIG.2: 7), which lies upon the calf of the leg. The inner counter isfastened to the outer counter in both sides with a moveable joint (FIG.1: 9, FIG. 2: 9, FIG. 3: 9) by which the up and down going movements arecounteracted.

On the outer side of the outer counter are in both sides mounted a hookarrangement (FIG. 1: 10, FIG. 3: 10) or a piece of Welco-belt forfastening in both sides a 2-3 centimetre wide elastic strap (FIG. 1:11-14), which is composed of the pieces FIG. 1: 11-13, FIG. 3: 11-13, ofwhich the piece FIG. 1: 11, FIG. 3: 11 is an inelastic strap. After thatfollows the piece FIG. 1: 12, FIG. 3: 12 which is an elastic strap andthere after follows the piece FIG. 1: 13, FIG. 3: 13 which is aninelastic strap. The latter is mounted under the sole at FIG. 1: 14 byuse of a click arrangement like that, used under the sole and the heelcounter (FIG. 1:15, FIG. 3: 15).

In the last-mentioned case knobs will be cast under the sole in bothsides, so that the holes in the bottom of the strap (FIG. 1: 14) fit theknobs in both sides under the sole.

By this one achieves to be able to use the single strap on both sides ofthe foot, just by an inversion of the strap.

The piece of the strap FIG. 1: 13, FIG. 3: 13 is placed inside the shoe,while the piece of the strap FIG. 1:12, FIG. 3: 12 comes out of the shoeand lies freely and turns half round over the instep and goes up to thepiece of the strap FIG. 1: 11, FIG. 3: 11, which is fastened at FIG. 1:10, FIG. 3: 10.

1. Ankle brace to put on a foot to set right, that the foot cannot byitself be raised sufficient by walking, the so called drop feet Theankle brace consists of a lower part, namely the sole (FIG. 1: 1) withone with a click system (FIG. 1: 15, FIG. 3: 15) fastened heel counter(FIG. 1: 2) and also an upper part, namely the bar (FIG. 1: 5, FIG. 3:5) with a fastened adjustable fitting (FIG. 2: 6, FIG. 3: 6) with one tothe fitting fastened adjustable double counter (FIG. 1: 7, 8, FIG. 2: 7,8). Upper and lover part are in front put together by 2 elasticadjustable straps, which crosswise over the instep go from the hookdevise (FIG. 1: 10, FIG. 3: 10 on the double counter to the sole (FIG.1: 14), where the straps are fastened under the sole with a click systemand upper and lower part of the brace are on the backside of the leg(the calf) put together in a moveable joint (FIG. 1: 4) characterisedin, that the joint (FIG. 1: 4) is constructed thus, that it is freelymoveable in all directions.
 2. Ankle brace according to claim 1characterised in, that the sole (FIG. 1: 1) and the heel counter (FIG.1: 2) are put together by means of a click system (FIG. 1:15, FIG. 3:15)
 3. Ankle brace according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in, that thefixed 2 counters of the double counter (FIG. 1: 7, 8, FIG. 2: 7, 8)freely are able to move up and down between each other by 2 joints (FIG.1: 9, FIG. 2: 9)